By Fay Simmons

Tribune Business Reporter

jsimmons@tribunemedia.net

A Cabinet minister yesterday said plans for The Bahamas to ultimately become self-sufficient in egg production are "on stream" with the necessary poultry grow houses to be set-up within four months.

Clay Sweeting, minister of agriculture, marine resources and Family Island Affairs, giving an update on the $15m Golden Yolk initiative, said: “We're also about to ensure that we get the houses and all that constructed. That takes up to four months to be ordered to get into the country.

"So all of that is still on stream. It's an exciting project and we hope that in a few months that we can see some more development there, but the feed mill is already almost completed. It will be state of the art, automated, top of the line.”

Mr Sweeting stressed the importance of partnering with the private sector to ensure the project is successful, and maintained that The Bahamas becoming self-sufficient in egg production will stabilise prices of this commodity.

He said: “In order for us to be food secure it’s important that we partner. I mean, this isn't government against private sector; it's a partnership. And in the private sector industry, the food supply stores are already committed to working with us to ensure that this is successful.

“It's not just about food prices, but it's about eating healthy. It's about food security, it's about stabilising the price. The price might go down today, but you know, you don't have no stability in regards to that price. But this is just one avenue that we can ensure that we become more food secure within this country.”

Mr Sweeting is hopeful that egg distribution will begin within a year, and noted that logistical challenges have caused the project to be delayed. He added: “We would hope within a year that we could have that going. The challenge is because of logistical challenges and steel and all that. Like the feed mill is probably a month to six weeks later than anticipated when we paid a deposit some time ago. So it all depends on manufacturing.”